Introducing myself and my journal

About Me:
I hold an LLB degree and I have been a practising attorney within the courts of Botswana for over 12 years. I was awarded the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in 2001/2 and participated in a non degree professional development at Rutgers University in the USA.

My leadership experience stems from being at the helm of leadership in the Botswana civil society, working as a legal practitioner, advocate and a human rights activist especially for the under-privileged such as women, children and sexual minorities, moderating workshops and strategic planning sessions as well as from social activities.

I gained considerable work experience in the area of organizational development as the director of a women’s legal aid centre. Working in a grassroots organization with diverse cultural sensitivities and established hierarchies provided me the opportunity to develop and refine my interpersonal skills and creativity in managing complex processes, building trust as well as raising commitment and ownership for change by displaying assertiveness moderated with cultural empathy. This setting motivated me to tackle challenges requiring extraordinary solutions to achieving goals as well as a strong commitment to my personal learning process. Among others, my achievements include the introduction of a Domestic Violence Bill in 1999, planning and implementing the expansion of the centre from local to national coverage, and the conceptualization of other strategic options in the advancement of women’s and children’s human rights in Botswana.

I am an exceptional trainer and I have trained here in Botswana scores of both men and women on varied subjects ranging from the human rights of women, children, refugees, sexual minorities, and have undertaken numerous public interest litigation which has in many instances led to changes in legal status of women in Botswana. As a Director I also had the responsibility to manage, plan and/or design projects, as well implementation and reporting, through these experiences I came to appreciate that only when we can eradicate all laws, policies, traditional practices which promote discrimination we can not fulfil the essential human right goal of creating a society that respects all human dignity.

My Passions:
people and human rights activism

My Challenges:
understanding intolerance, bogotry

My Vision for the Future:
to create a society that is tolerant and celebrates difference and diversity

My Areas of Expertise:
women's human rights litigation and advocasy